Bharti Airtel has announced the successful completion of the first phase of a strategic initiative in partnership with the Indian Army's 4 Corps, headquartered at Tezpur, to enhance mobile connectivity across remote regions of Arunachal Pradesh. With this deployment, Airtel has become the first and only service provider to deliver reliable mobile connectivity in the mountainous, high-altitude, and difficult-to-access area.
According to a company release, this initiative will enable both military and civil personnel residing in these remote locations to stay seamlessly connected with their families. As part of the project, Airtel deployed network infrastructure across 30 Army stations situated in challenging mountainous terrain. The deployment is expected to significantly improve voice and data connectivity in areas where access has historically been limited due to geographical and infrastructure constraints.
The company stated, "This achievement was made possible through the strong collaboration between Airtel and the Indian Army. The Army extended extensive logistical support throughout the project, including assistance for fiber deployment and power infrastructure. In several locations where road access was not possible, the Indian Army provided necessary assistance and logistics support to move Airtel technical teams and telecommunication equipment deep into the mountains."
The successful completion of Phase 1 has paved the way for the next chapter. Encouraged by the impact of the project, the Indian Army and Airtel have agreed to undertake Phase 2, under which network sites will be built across 15 additional locations in Arunachal Pradesh.
Balaji R, CEO – North East and Assam, Bharti Airtel, said, "This initiative reflects Airtel’s continued commitment to extending connectivity to some of the country’s most difficult terrains. The rollout required extensive coordination between Airtel teams and local support units to overcome immense terrain and weather-related challenges. Our teams operated under demanding high-altitude conditions and adverse weather to ensure timely and secure network activation. We are deeply grateful to the Indian Army for their unparalleled logistical support, which made it possible to bring digital connectivity to these frontier regions."
This development marks a significant step in bridging the digital divide in one of India's most remote areas.
